It really is true that $1,000,000 will not buy what it used to! For example, recently a comic book that originally costs 10 cents sold for - you know it - $1,000,000! Of course, the comic book was the produced in 1938 and was the first Superman comic book. Even those who are avid collectors were stunned by the price - a measly $400,000 was the previous record for a similar item. Wow - someone really valued that Superman comic book!
Value - now there is an interesting concept. What do you value? For some, value is all about stuff - houses, cars, boats, gadgets, etc. For some, its position. Titles, promotions, being in charge, power, etc. For some, its time. Time to relax, to pursue their interests, time away from pressure and demands, time with friends, etc. What we value says a great deal about us - it often defines us to others without us saying a word.
When I ask myself this question the answer was in my daily calendar - it is what you do everyday - the way you live that tells the story. You can also clearly see what you value by looking through your financial transactions, your checkbook - how you spent your money and what dominates the list.
Jesus had these sayings that are just floor me - like this one -
"What will it profit a person, if they gain the whole world and lose their soul?"
The quickest way to "lose your soul" is to sell your soul for the sake of the stuff of this world.
Value - what about love, joy, peace, patience and all those virtues that shape our lives to help us see what really matters - now that is worth $1,000,000 and much more!
Just thinking, Steve
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Who Dat?
I always watch the Super Bowl. I would feel Un-American and out of touch to not watch it. The hype drives me nuts. The games are often boring but I resign myself to the duty of watching it each year.
But this year, there was something different about this normally over blown and over hyped event - it meant something more than football. After all it was the Cinderella story of football - the New Orleans Saints finally in the Super Bowl after decades of mediocre teams and lack of success. But, of course, the real story is of a city crushed by the worst national disaster in the history of our nation and the lives that have been changed forever, as a result. The success of the Saints became a new beacon of hope for a city trying to rebuild.
I was having lunch this week and in walked a group of New Orleans fans chanting, "Who Dat? Who Dat?" The "Who Dat Nation" is living in the afterglow of an unlikely and remarkable story of victory!
The joy of seeing an underdog excel and succeed is like nothing else. It gives all of us hope that we too can fight our way through adversity, through the challenges we face, and be successful in life.
My problems and challenges seem rather small today - no more grumbling or complaining for me - dedication, desire, and the generous blessing of God with get me through!
Who Dat!
Just thinking, Steve
But this year, there was something different about this normally over blown and over hyped event - it meant something more than football. After all it was the Cinderella story of football - the New Orleans Saints finally in the Super Bowl after decades of mediocre teams and lack of success. But, of course, the real story is of a city crushed by the worst national disaster in the history of our nation and the lives that have been changed forever, as a result. The success of the Saints became a new beacon of hope for a city trying to rebuild.
I was having lunch this week and in walked a group of New Orleans fans chanting, "Who Dat? Who Dat?" The "Who Dat Nation" is living in the afterglow of an unlikely and remarkable story of victory!
The joy of seeing an underdog excel and succeed is like nothing else. It gives all of us hope that we too can fight our way through adversity, through the challenges we face, and be successful in life.
My problems and challenges seem rather small today - no more grumbling or complaining for me - dedication, desire, and the generous blessing of God with get me through!
Who Dat!
Just thinking, Steve
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Last Season
My confession of the week is that my wife and I watch "Lost", the television series. I am so thankful that this is the final season. I am not sure what it is I like about this odd and confusing program. Perhaps that is the secret: it is odd and confusing. One of the ways the creators of "Lost" keep you lost, is by bouncing around in time and space. Is it now or is it later or is it before? Does anyone know what time it is? The characters remind me of people I have known over the years - I will not reveal names to protect the innocent. In this series, dying does not get you off the show - you simply reappear in a different time and place. Time travel in this series is as common as changing planes in Dallas, Houston or Los Angeles.
There are television programs that I watched in years past that truly were awful. I was a faithful viewer of "Kung Fu" - when I think about it I am horribly embarrassed. On Sunday evenings, I believe, my family gathered around the TV to watch "Bonanza" - when I see a rerun it makes my skin crawl. What were we thinking? Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe were the world's worst Cowboys - the acting and script is so bad, it is laughable. Our family loved this terrible show - what was wrong with us and the millions of others like us?
As bad as all that television was it cannot compare to the horrible addiction to "reality TV" - this is proof that the decline of Western Civilization is well underway. The furthermost thing from reality is of course any reality program that is on the air.
All of this reminds me that there is no reasonable explanation for people's tastes in television, movies, music, politics, sports, etc. - it is one of life's genuine mysteries. My personal taste is so strange that it would make yours look normal, I am sure.
Week after week, we will find time, via our DVR, to watch one more espisode of "Lost", so we can scratch our head and discuss over popcorn what we think is coming next.
Just a reflection about all this: Isn't it wonderful that we are all so different? Who wants to be a clone? I find people so interesting simply because of our different tastes, different interests, and different ways of seeing the same thing.
It makes my job and life interesting and challenging every day. I like that.
Just thinking, Steve
There are television programs that I watched in years past that truly were awful. I was a faithful viewer of "Kung Fu" - when I think about it I am horribly embarrassed. On Sunday evenings, I believe, my family gathered around the TV to watch "Bonanza" - when I see a rerun it makes my skin crawl. What were we thinking? Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe were the world's worst Cowboys - the acting and script is so bad, it is laughable. Our family loved this terrible show - what was wrong with us and the millions of others like us?
As bad as all that television was it cannot compare to the horrible addiction to "reality TV" - this is proof that the decline of Western Civilization is well underway. The furthermost thing from reality is of course any reality program that is on the air.
All of this reminds me that there is no reasonable explanation for people's tastes in television, movies, music, politics, sports, etc. - it is one of life's genuine mysteries. My personal taste is so strange that it would make yours look normal, I am sure.
Week after week, we will find time, via our DVR, to watch one more espisode of "Lost", so we can scratch our head and discuss over popcorn what we think is coming next.
Just a reflection about all this: Isn't it wonderful that we are all so different? Who wants to be a clone? I find people so interesting simply because of our different tastes, different interests, and different ways of seeing the same thing.
It makes my job and life interesting and challenging every day. I like that.
Just thinking, Steve
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